Fellow Scot Colin Montgomerie has lead the praise for new double winning Dubai Desert Classic champion Stephen Gallacher.
Gallacher arrived home just prior to noon yesterday to be greeted at Glasgow Airport by a local TV station and a small group of friends.
Stephen Gallacher gets to grips with winning the Dubai Desert Classic for a second year running. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
During the seven-and-a-quarter flight Emirates Airline staff helped celebrate Gallacher’s third European Tour success with the odd glass of champagne.
And it was a double celebration with Gallacher’s Livingston-based caddy, Damien Moore turning 43 at midnight Sunday, and hours after his second victory with Gallacher and the eighth win of Moore’s caddying career.
Gallacher had been greeted with a congratulatory hug at Dubai Airport earlier in the day by SKY TV’s Dougie Donnelly while Monty and his own family was also aboard the Glasgow-bound flight.
In fact, Gallacher had become the first Scot in 14 years since Monty to successfully defend the same event after Monty won three BMW PGA Championships in a row from 1998 to 200.
“It was a very impressive performance and I’m delighted for him,” said Monty.
“Stephen also matched a record I enjoyed for many years and that can only be good for Scottish golf, and let’s hope now that given he looks likely he will play all four Majors we can see him representing Scotland later this year at Gleneagles.”
Monty was back in his home for just one night and this morning (TUES) is bound for Florida and his maiden US Champions Tour event this year at Boca Raton.
In contrast, Gallacher has a well-earned two week break before tackling the February 19th starting $US 9m WGC – Accenture Match-Play Championship.
After being officially confirmed as the new World No. 37 as rightfully predicted by www.golfbytourmiss.com Gallacher’s manager Ian Stoddard will be using these coming weeks booking accommodation in Augusta, Georgia for his star client.
And Stoddard has spoken of his own excitement with the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles now very much on the horizon.
“Stephen’s win this year is bigger win by miles than last year’s in Dubai because it has put him comfortably for the time being into the world top 50,” he said.
“That was always the goal. When we sat down in January 2013 there was a plan to go about what’s ahead with the Ryder Cup the main goal.
“No one is getting ahead of themselves for the Ryder Cup, but that plan has to be based on being in the world top 50, otherwise you have no chance.”
And while Gallacher has also qualified for the March 8th starting $US 9m WGC – Cadillac Championship Stoddard revealed he is already working on getting Gallacher an invitation into the PGA Tour’s Honda Classic being staged in between the two WGCs.
